University of South Carolina Libraries
i?Door All of us have blood pressure. Without it blood, which carries essential nutrients and oxygen, could not circulate throughout our body- This continual and imperative function is commonly misunderstood. Minute to minute, dav fn Hav m?p blood pressure varies. It goes up when we're excited, under stress, exercise or have a full bladder; down when we're relaxed or asleep. When we get blood pressure checks the "reading" is simply the relationship between the pressure of the blood against the arteries when the heart beats (systolic) and the force of the blood against the arteries when the heart rests (diastolic). The systolic number is always written first: as 120-80 mm. or 13876 mm. In persons 18 or older, Murium uysiouc pressure ranges from 90 to 140 mm. and normal diastolic from 60 to 90 mm. For example, a reading of 120-80 is considered in the normal range just as is a reading of 100-70 mm. Normally, periodic occurrences of elevated blood pressure are normal and are regulated by internal mechanisms. If your system continuously operates at an elevated pressure these mechanisms become less sensitive and therefore do not trigger reduction responses. When high blood pressure is sustained for Ions periods the heart enlarges in response to the continual strain. Eventually, under the burden, the heart weakens, loses efficiency and pumps less blood. The kidneys, unable to function effectively because of reduced blood flow, fail to excrete enough fluids, and tissues become ___ K1 Do you knc Does your | Be informedetails, Asl4 (The plus c FRIDfiY, m< TODAY I way to Iwaterlogged adding still more to the heart's burden. . High blood pressure injures the artery walls so that more fatty deposits settle. The result is arteriosclerosis, or artery clogging, that can choke off the blood supply to the heart, brain or kidneys, 1 4- A 1 ' icauaig w cvcuiuai neart atcact, stroke or kidney failure. Hypertension means high blood pressure. This year alone, high blood pressure will help kill about 250,000 Americans. 'i ? U*1 . .1 1 + ' Unlike other major health problems, hypertension does not cause overt symptoms. It is like having termites in your house; they continually gnaw at the foundation, but you are unaware of damage until the house collapses. For that reason it is sometimes referred to as the "silent killer." Latest statistics by the National High Blood Pressure Education Program show 35 million Americans have high blood pressure. Forty percent are unaware that they have it, while only 20 percent of those who realize they are hypertensive take positive action to control it. If we took the responsibility to eliminate some of our deleterious lifestyle habits, we would lessen chances of becoming hypertensive or help reduce blood pressure once it begins to rise. Risk factors are: obesity, excess salt and fat in our diet, chronic stress, cigarette smoking and sedentary living. mm me rt - w >w about the P r?rrkfoQcr?r knnu a w > ? www sill w vi d because it h ; your professo grading system This < DEC. 8th LAST DVIE TICKETS. IS OFFICIALLY CflROLIh iealth?| Obesity Imposes an added circulatory burden on the heart because blood volume increases with body weight, and the body's fat reserves must be supplied with blood through a much larger system of blood vessels, and the result is an increase in blood pressure. Excess salt causes the kidneys to retain fluids, therefore blood volume increases, the heart works harder and eventually blood pressure rises. Salt is an acquired taste. No one is born with the desire for salt. The average American diet contains 30 times the suggested amount of salt. Cigarette smoking has been shown to produce constriction of the capillaries. Blockage of these small vessels has a sicnifir?ant effect on arterial pressure. Although effects from cigarettes only last while smoking, continual smoking aids in the toleration of higher levels of blood pressure. The importance of exercise cannot be overemphasized. From a physiological perspective, exercise can help tone the heart muscle as well as reduce blood pressure and weight. Oftentimes, when hypertension is diagnosed, drugs are prescribed. The taking of this medication is not a temporary intervention, but a daily practice, and unfortunately, undesirable side effects can occur. For that reason alone, the most desirable course of action is to start with yourself and pursue sensible personal health habits from an early age onward. DITOR'S NOTE: An artlda r?4?t*d to hoalth wtH ba featured at tha baolnrlng o< aach month In tha Oamacockv of which this It tha third. Tha column It produced In cooparatlan with Opan Poor. l?g m EflDINC lus - Grading ^ i i ft nave you o elps your G.P. if how grades must be used :an only help DRY THIS SEfTl BUY NOW F CAROLINA c JA CAftES. DO i ... at but i Fast ^ 112^1 V W ? ( I Rffi II,JH ?ne ' i ,ar9e I One I fflSL ^XP'' I mM| 1124 BbSBB Wer f<\3 G3EC ISYSTEI1 System? sked your profe R. flsk Student will be determi in determining you! ESTER FOR DISC OR THE HOLIPfV oocc nov nrvk%# wn i YOU? PLERSE I Domino's Pizza our dough iver frozen or pre-formed prepared fresh by highly ?d pizza professionals. , Free Delivery I Devine St., 256-8151 Copyright 1978 I dollar oft any | i pizza. j coupon per pizza ! res: 1/31/79 ] Free Delivery | Devine. 256-8151 i -v I > eserve the right to limit j Jeiivery area. = M I vH i EN i I : ___ n >ssor? Gov't for ned. grades). OUNT /S. ?* * ?ipin I